Maldives News Bulletin - Volume 260

President visits Velana International Airport’s new terminal site

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited the new terminal of Velana International Airport (VIA) and inspected the construction site today.

Upon arrival, he was briefed by senior officials from Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and the Saudi Binladin Group regarding the facilities being established at the new terminal to enhance passenger services. The terminal is designed to accommodate seven million passengers annually.

The President was accompanied by Cabinet Ministers and senior Government officials.

 SOURCE : The President’s Office 

Foreign Minister attends inaugural session of Raisina Dialogue 2025

 Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel has participated in the inaugural session of the 10th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue 2025.

The Raisina Dialogue, held in New Delhi, India from 17 to 19 March, was jointly inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon.

This year’s theme for the Raisina Dialogue is “Kālachakra – People, Peace and Planet”. During the event, decision makers and thought leaders of the world will engage each other across conversations in various formats, over six thematic pillars. Representatives from over 125 countries are participating in the event.

The Raisina Dialogue, hosted annually by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs serves as a premier global forum for geopolitical and strategic discussions. The conference will hold discussions on challenging issues facing the global community.

SOURCE : PSM

Government agencies aim to ease medicine availability through pharmacies

 The relevant Government agencies on Tuesday held a sit-down to discuss ways to make prescription medicine more easily available through local pharmacies for the public.

The deliberations were led by the Minister of Health Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim and Minister of Social and Family Development Dr Aishath Shiham with officials from the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), Aasandha Company Limited and National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) in attendance.

The discussions centred around ensuring ease of access to medicines in line with the Government’s objectives and addressing the existing difficulties in the availability of medicines.

They also discussed the possibilities of importing medicines from developed countries under the bulk procurement system, bringing in quality medicines as promised by the Government and providing information to doctors about the medicines imported through a unified system.

The information sessions are being conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, MFDA, NSPA and Aasandha.

The Government has recognised that expenditures on pharmaceuticals constitute one of the largest and most wasteful costs within the healthcare system. The national insurance system, managed by Aasandha, reports that over half of its expenses are related to the importation of medicines, a figure that continues to rise annually.

Source: PSM

India, Maldives embrace local currency trade settlement 

India and the Maldives have taken a significant step towards strengthening their economic partnership, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorising bilateral trade settlements in Indian Rupee (INR) and Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR). 

This development, announced on Monday, complements the existing Asian Clearing Union (ACU) mechanism and signals a broader commitment to fostering regional financial integration. The decision is rooted in a framework established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the RBI and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) in November 2024. 

The ACU, which has served as a cornerstone for regional trade, operates as a multilateral clearing system that streamlines payment settlements among its member countries. Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are participants in this arrangement. 

“In the wake of the MoU, it has been decided that India’s bilateral trade transactions with the Maldives may also be settled in INR and/or MVR in addition to the ACU mechanism, as hitherto,” the RBI stated in its announcement. The directive, the statement added, is to take immediate effect. 

India has long been a primary trading partner for the Maldives, supplying essential commodities such as rice, sugar, and fuel. The new arrangement is expected to simplify transactions for these staples, alleviating logistical challenges and further solidifying the economic relationship between the two nations. 

The introduction of local currency settlements aligns with India’s broader objective of enhancing the prominence of the Indian Rupee on the global stage. This ambition was further underscored during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s recent state visit to India, where an agreement was formalised to introduce RuPay cards in the Maldives. This initiative focused on advancing cross-border digital payment systems. 

SOURCE : PSM 

MTCC completes Hirilandhoo land reclamation project 

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has completed the land reclamation project in Hirilandhoo, Thaa Atoll. 

The land reclamation project in Hirilandhoo was awarded to MTCC in late 2020. The scope includes dredging and reclamation of 25 hectares, construction of rock boulder revetment and the construction of a groyne. 

However, the USD9.7 million project was stalled after MTCC’s dredging vessel broke down in 2022 before the project resumed in August 2023. 

Hirilandhoo spans 29 hectares and has a population of over 1,200. Hirilandhoo does extensive industrial work such as making fish products and fibre works. 

The lack of land has been identified as one of the biggest issues for the growing population, as there are no more land plots for residents. The newly reclaimed land will pave the way for better housing and more opportunities for businesses, the Government had said. 

SOURCE : PSM 

Government to compile commercial agricultural entities registry 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has initiated the process of compiling a comprehensive registry to identify entities engaged in commercial agriculture across the Maldives. 

According to the Ministry, this initiative aims to gather information from individuals and businesses currently involved in agriculture, including commercial farmers, livestock and poultry farmers, and commercial nursery operators, as well as those interested in entering the sector. 

The Ministry has invited all existing and prospective commercial agricultural entities to submit the required form to the Ministry by email before 10 April. 

However, individual farmers from inhabited islands are not required to apply for this registry, it added. 

The Government has launched several initiatives to encourage the role of youth in the agricultural sector and to provide them with the necessary support and empowerment. 

SOURCE : PSM

Government announces marine hatchery skills development programme 

The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources on Wednesday invited interested candidates to join the marine hatchery skills development programme. 

The initiative, in collaboration with the Maldives Marine Research Institute aims to teach participants reef fish farming, hatchery and aquaculture skills, the Ministry said. 

The programme is scheduled to be held from 26 April to 8 May in Maaniyaafushi, Kaafu Atoll. 

According to the Ministry, the programme is limited to a maximum of 15 participants where food, accommodation in Maaniyaafushi and travel will be borne by the Government. 

Prospective candidates are invited to submit their applications by 2:00pm on 15 April to be considered for the programme. 

SOURCE : PSM

Parliament signs off on revised Ministry mandates 

Parliament, on Tuesday, approved the revised mandates for three key ministries, proposed by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. 

President Dr Muizzu had changed the composition of the Cabinet, renaming and renewing the mandate of some Ministries. 

The President had sought Parliament approval for the changes to the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, as well as the Ministry of Finance and Planning. 

The mandate changes were approved by the Parliament during Tuesday’s sitting with 50 lawmakers voting in favour. 

The President had disbanded the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development and transferred that Ministry’s operations and services under the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure. 

He had also merged the Environment mandate with the Ministry of Tourism. 

SOURCE : PSM 

Government targets completion of council projects on 10 islands by year-end 

The Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works has announced that the construction of secretariat buildings for ten local councils is set for completion by the end of this year. 

In January, the Ministry signed a contract with Malaysia-based Hextar Global to construct council secretariat buildings across 55 islands. The agreement, formalised on 20 January, employs a contractor-finance model designed to optimise resource allocation for public development projects. 

Providing an update on the initiative, State Minister Ahmed Rasheed confirmed that Hextar Global is currently preparing detailed Bills of Quantities (BOQs), a crucial step before civil works can begin. The scope of these works, he said, has already been defined, ensuring operational readiness. According to Rasheed, local councils will invite bids for the civil works, with a commitment to prioritise local contractors to maximise community engagement and domestic expertise. 

The project, to be completed within three years, includes the construction of fully furnished and equipped secretariat buildings. Rasheed expressed confidence that the ten secretariats under active development would be operational before the year’s end, reflecting the rapid pace of progress. 

Work has already commenced on 13 islands with groundbreaking ceremonies, spanning three atolls: Uligan, Maarandhoo, Thakanadhoo, Utheemu, Filladhoo, and Muraidhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll; Maakurathu, Fainu, Kinolhas, Innamaadhoo, Rasmaadhoo, and Maduvvari in Raa Atoll; and Rinbudhoo in Dhaalu Atoll. 

The Administration has set a target to complete secretariat buildings on 105 islands during its current tenure. This endeavour seeks to replace ageing and inadequate facilities, addressing long-standing space constraints that have hindered the efficiency of local governance. Once complete, the initiative is expected to fulfil 70 percent of the Administration’s goal to enhance administrative capabilities of local councils across the country.

SOURCE : PSM

Police, banks get power to freeze bank accounts of scammers 

The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act has come into force giving the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and financial institutions the power to freeze bank accounts of scammers before scammed money can be transferred out. 

Police have urged victims to report money lost through scams as quickly as possible. Maldives has seen a significant rise in scam cases after the Covid-19 pandemic when most financial transactions were digitalised. 

MPS has launched several initiatives to combat the rising scam cases including the establishment of an Anti-Scam Centre along with a dedicated hotline. 

To assist authorities, the Government last year moved an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act to introduce a comprehensive mechanism aimed at addressing cybercrimes perpetrated through new technologies and computer systems. The amendment ratified by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on 17 December last year has come into effect from Monday. 

Speaking to PSM News’ ‘Raajje Miadhu’ programme, Inspector of Police and Head of Anti-Scam Center Adam Naweed said the biggest change with the amendment is that the police and financial institutions will have the power to freeze scammed money before it is taken out from the financial system. 

The information will be shared with the financial institutions immediately after a scam is reported, he said. According to Naweed, Police now have the power to freeze a suspect’s bank account to prevent money from being transferred out. 

He noted that previously separate court orders were required to freeze each account but with the new amendment, multiple accounts can be frozen with a single court order. 

“So, when a scam is reported to us, the information goes to the financial institutions and the agency can take immediate action. So with this amendment we can stop money from leaving the system. This gives us a great advantage given the seriousness of the scam situation here,” he explained. 

According to Naweed, institutions are required to disclose information and financial details of suspects without documentation upon request by Police. The amendment also allows the authorities to freeze funds for 48 hours immediately and extend this period under a court order, he added. 

SOURCE : PSM 

MPS strengthens fraud defences with launch of anti-scam hotline 

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has introduced a dedicated anti-scam hotline as part of its expanded efforts to combat scams and related criminal activities across the nation. 

This initiative is a key component of the MPS Strategic Action Plan for 2024–2028, which prioritises the prevention of fraudulent activities. A significant step in this effort came with the establishment of the specialised Anti-Scam Centre in June 2024, which aims to centralise and enhance the country’s capacity to address scams. 

On 17 March, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau issued a directive granting the Anti-Scam Centre the authority to oversee and respond to all reported scam-related crimes nationwide. As part of this directive, the MPS has said the centre has been empowered to act as the focal point for addressing fraud, working in collaboration with relevant financial agencies. 

To support this initiative, the MPS has also introduced a dedicated call centre for reporting scams. According to the police service, once a report is received, the Anti-Scam Centre will collect relevant information, liaise with financial institutions, and take appropriate measures to address the crime. 

Members of the public can now report scams and related crimes via the national emergency number, 911, or the newly established anti-scam hotline, 125. Additionally, the Anti-Scam Centre can be contacted directly through extension 2020 or via email at [email protected]. These channels are also available for reporting crimes occurring outside the Maldives, the police service added. 

The MPS has noted that citizens can continue to report scam-related crimes at police stations across Malé and the outer islands. However, the public is strongly encouraged to utilise the new hotline to streamline the reporting process and enhance efficiency, it said. 

In a public appeal, the MPS also urged citizens to assist in combating scams by reporting incidents promptly. The police service reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with financial institutions and other authorities to safeguard the public from fraudulent activities. 

SOURCE : PSM